Restricted meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton

Harness Racing Victoria conducted a restricted grade meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton on Thursday, with mixed results during the afternoon.

Mt Cottrell trainer/driver Tony Pullicino is “on fire” of late and brought up a driving double, winning the Schweppes Pace for R0 class over 1720 metres aboard the Jason Sant (Mt Cottrell) trained 4-Y-0 As Promised/Dilingent Miss gelding Black Villain and the Sky Racing Pace for R4 to R6 class over 2240 metres with his own charge Master William.

Black Villain led throughout from gate two in easily accounting for Steely Blue and Aimeetothepost in 1-58.7, while Master William a 6-Y-0 Pacific Rocket/Poly Petite gelding was given a sweet passage one/one, before running home best to score from Shifting Sand which trailed the weakening leader Adistactos before using the sprint lane, with Hamlett third after racing in the open.

Bred and raced by long time stable supporter and Melton resident Ian Arnold, Brief Glance was restrained from outside the front row to possie five back in the moving line, with Arctic Wolf leading from gate five.

Setting off three wide at the bell, Brief Glance was accommodated by the well supported Trappers Puzzle coming out ahead of him, giving him a lovely ride home.

When Trappers Puzzle surged to the front on the home turn, Brief Glance was in hot pursuit and raced away over the concluding stages to register a 18.1 metre victory in 2-02.8, with Dreamscape Aurora running on late for third.

Given a sweet passage one/one and one/two from the bell after starting from gate two, Latoya Lass sprinted sharply in the last lap to join the leaders Ess Are Vee and the almost unbackable favourite Franco Cruise which moved to face the open for the last lap after galloping away from gate three.

When Franco Cruise crossed to lead approaching the home turn, Latoya Lass joined him, striding past to lead on straightening, before racing right away to score by 14.8 metres from a disappointing Franco Cruise, with Break Twenty One a further 12.3 metres away in third place.

Thursday was a good one for the Macedon Ranges area, with Kyneton’s Mario Callus landing the Tabcorp Park Melton Pace for R0 or better class over 2240 metres with Wealthy Warrior and Riddells Creek trainer Tony Xiriha the Renown Silverware Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over the same trip with Spinster Clare.

Wealthy Warrior driven by Chris Alford settled three back in the moving line from gate three, running on strongly on turning to register a 2.6 metre victory in 2-00.9 over Its Jacks Fault (one/one) and a death-seating Starlight Logan which led on straightening.

A Kiwi bred gelded son of Penuvian Hanover and Wealthy Lavra raced by the Callus family, Wealthy Warrior has fronted the starter on 27 occasions with his previous and only victory being at Cambridge (NI) in May last year.

Speedy 5-Y-0 Conch Deville/Anfield mare Spinster Clare bred and raced by Rod and Anne Pollock, led throughout from gate six with Brian Gath in the sulky to chalk up her 7th victory in 37 outings, defeating Clarrie Stone from mid-field and Marios Dream which trailed the winner. The mile rate 2-03.7.